We’ve been talking about how the next generation views technology and how it’s changing youth ministry culture today. Whether you’re a youth leader or a parent of a youth, understanding how technology works and how students view it today is important because it’s how they communicate. if you want to communicate and I mean really communicate with students today you must understand technology.
• Contact Work – A large majority of contact work with students happens online. Contact work is when adult leaders build relationships with teens. There are three levels of contact work in order to build trust: 1) be seen, 2) talk with all types of kids, and 3) do something together. Level 1 and 2 can predominantly be done online. Typically, level 1 and 2 are the longest stages in contact work process. However, doing contact work online makes it way easier to connect with a wide variety of students in a short amount of time. Plus, the adult volunteer is highly visible and will be considered highly relational by students. Not only are students on technology a lot, but students are way more open when they are on their computer/smart phone keyboard than they are in small group. Some of my best ministry moments have happened from a keyboard. Youth leaders must meet students on their “technology turf” where they are comfortable in order to connect, relate and understand teens. Connecting in this way may seem impersonal to older generations, but we have to remember that the way teens connect with one another has changed dramatically even in the last five years.
• Globalization – Technology has enabled ideas and information to circulate and be spread around the world. Some of the strongest cell phone signals are in rural parts of Africa. Therefore, students are being exposed to other countries’ cultures and realities. Teens are becoming more aware of what is happening around the world without ever having to go anywhere. Students are realizing how good they have it in America. I think students are more motivated (than ever) to travel across the world to learn and be a part of cultural experiences. I have had former students who lived in Australia, Russia, Japan, China, Africa, Germany, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, and Switzerland. In their minds, traveling across the globe is not what just church missionaries do now. In addition students of the next generation are way more inspired to going on a oversees mission trip.
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